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MAKING MARGARITA

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About

She was the daughter-in-law of a Prime Minister, the wife of a Prime Minister, and the mother of a Prime Minister.

MAKING MARGARITA features Margarita Papandreou—the American-born, First-Lady of Greece determined to fight for a world free from prejudice and war. At 100 yrs old, Margarita remains an unlikely political figure whose accomplishments are unknown, whose impact has been ignored, and whose being is still misunderstood.

A Midwestern girl of the Depression growing up in a Roosevelt America that was largely dominated by its democratic ideas and ideals, Margaret Chant soon married into one of Greece’s greatest political dynasties. She was motivated by the belief in justice and driven by the ambition to effect change. Margarita (the Greek name her Father-in-Law bestowed upon her) used her platform as First-Lady (an American title she bestowed upon herself) to influence global leaders and rally citizens to engage in dialogue with compassion and understanding. 

She believes “whatever concerns women is political,” and inspired women to take action in all aspects of their lives. As she pressed for initiatives such as abolishing the dowry, changes to Family Law, and the legalization of abortion, she faced criticism from her husband’s party and Greece’s patriarchal society, fueling the press to manipulate public judgment of her intentions, goals, and personality. 
 
The documentary spotlights her recount of public stories such as the coup d’etat that launched the dictatorship, the partnership in romance & politics which produced four children & one socialist party, and her role in one of Europe’s most salacious love triangle. 

With exclusive access, Margarita invites us into her home on the Sea of Corinth. From interviews on her “throne” to the in-between times of singing, walking, and laughing, this Cinéma Vérité exposes Margarita’s stories. Memories are enacted with heart, humor and heartbreak, whether it is an impassioned manifesto of hope from her loft's balcony, or the divorce cri de coeur performed with antiquated gestures while lip-syncing to Patsy Cline. She discloses conversations with characters such as Sadaam Hussein, Qaddafi, Raisa Gorbachev, and even with Donald Trump on the occasion he paid for a bottle of wine.

Margarita demonstrates how one person can instigate change to surprise the future. As today’s human rights, gender equality, and global awareness come to the forefront, the artist and audience confront their own beliefs, ethics, and cause.